Celebrating a Major Milestone at WWA

WWA are delighted to celebrate a significant achievement by Architectural Assistant, Charlie Kirby, on successfully completing RIBA Part II through the RIBA Studio Diploma route.

Marking the culmination of years of academic and creative development, Charlie’s portfolio demonstrates a thoughtful and ambitious approach to architecture. The work, presented, explores layered urban systems, adaptive reuse, and the integration of environmental strategies within complex built environments.

The final design project showcases a richly articulated architectural proposal—an intricate composition of structures, circulation routes, and environmental interventions—highlighting a strong commitment to sustainable design thinking and spatial experimentation.

Charlie’s journey through Part II reflects both intellectual rigour and a willingness to challenge conventions. Her reflective writing captures a clear sense of growth, resilience, and evolving design ethos. As she noted in her closing reflections:

“Looking back over my time on the RIBA Studio Diploma (Part II) course, I’m struck by how naturally the programme became a container for all the architectural questions I’d been carrying—about heritage and future technologies, about community and food, and about the messy, hopeful work of transforming what already exists. It gave me permission to let curiosity lead the way and to pursue ideas that sit somewhere between practicality and possibility.

Together, these threads—retrofit, community, food systems, digital twins, and speculative reinvention—formed a kind of personal manifesto. They shaped me not only as a designer but as a reflective practitioner, encouraging me to see architecture as a dialogue between past and future, people and place, ambition and care.

Yet woven through this journey were very real challenges. Balancing full‑time practice with academic deadlines often felt like navigating two parallel worlds moving at different speeds. Site pressures, unexpected contractor queries, and the unpredictability of day‑to‑day project work frequently spilled into the time I intended for study. There were moments of doubt, exhaustion, and the sense of being stretched thin—but these pressures ultimately taught me to prioritise more effectively, to ask for support when I needed it, and to develop a more grounded confidence in managing competing responsibilities.

More than anything, I’m grateful that the RIBA Studio course made space for exploration. It allowed me to test ideas, wander intellectually, and return to practice with a clearer sense of the architect I am becoming. As I continue my journey, I carry forward a commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and a belief that every existing building—like every community—holds the possibility for reinvention.”

We are incredibly proud to support Charlie at this important stage in her career and look forward to seeing her continue to develop her voice as she progresses towards Part III and professional qualification.

Congratulations, Charlie.

To view Charlie’s project, click on the image below.